Release of two lèse majesté convicts today delayed

Release of two lèse majesté convicts today delayed
Thu, 23/08/2012 – 23:04 | by Prachatai
Warawut Thanangkorn, aka Suchart Nakbangsai, and Suriyan Kokpuey were expected to be released today, but their release has been delayed as some documents have yet to be signed by the court.

According to a red-shirt blog, both of them have been granted a royal pardon under the 2012 Royal Decree for Amnesty, and were expected to be released at 8am on 23 Aug.

Warawut was convicted for a public speech defamatory to HM the Queen during an anti-coup rally in Oct 2008. After fleeing for more than two years, he turned himself in to the police on 1 Nov 2010.

On 24 Nov 2010, the Criminal Court sentenced him to six years’ imprisonment, but reduced the jail term by half, as he had pleaded guilty.

Suriyan, a shoe repairer at the Victory Monument, was sentenced to 6 years and one month in jail in Feb 2011 for making a telephone threat to place a bomb at Siriraj Hospital and making offensive remarks against HM the Queen. His sentence was also reduced by half, due to his guilty plea.

However, they have yet to be released, pending some documents to be signed by the court.

According to Suriyan’s parents who went to the Bangkok Remand Prison this morning in anticipation of meeting their son upon his release, they were told by prison officials that the prison had not yet received documents from the court authorizing his release.

They, however, were convinced that the documents should reach the prison by the afternoon or tomorrow.

Surachai Danwatthananusorn was sentenced to a total jail term of 12 years and 6 months for 5 offences in separate cases, which has been reduced to 10 and 9 months under to the same Royal Decree. He filed a petition for a royal pardon on 20 Aug.

Somyot Prueksakasemsuk is to appear in court again on 19 Sept to hear the Constitutional Court’s verdict as to whether or not the lèse majesté law is unconstitutional in response to a petition by him and his lawyers. He, however, speculates that the decision of the Constitution Court will not be delivered on that day and the verdict in his case will be further postponed.

Now he and Thanthawut Thaweewarodomkul are working in the library of Zone 1 in the prison. He writes appeals for other prisoners for a fee, and in his spare time writes articles for Prachatai, is writing a book, and translates articles from Newsweek.

Having long managed to come to terms with life in prison, he is now into meditation, chanting and reading books. And he is currently working with other prisoners to seek donations to buy new books for the prison library.

Somyot’s lawyer Kharom Pholpornklang said that he would try to request bail for his client again next week, for the 11th time.

According to lawyer Anon Nampha, Thanthawut’s request to withdraw his appeal has finally reached the court, and if the prosecutor decides not to oppose the request within 15 days, starting from 21 Aug, the case will be finalized and Thanthawut will be able to seek a royal pardon.

The Network of Family Members and Relatives of Section 112 Convicts has produced 1,500 cards in memory of Amphon Tangnoppakul for sale at 10 baht each to raise funds for its activities. Those interested can buy the cards through 112familynetwork@gmail.com.

The funeral of Amphon will be held at Lad Prao Temple in Bangkok on Sunday 26 Aug.

Release Joop and Tai!

"I am aware and concerned that Joop and Tai have been arrested." Singtor

"I am aware and concerned that Joop and Tai have been arrested." Sunee

"I am aware and concerned that Joop and Tai have been arrested." Fabian, Zimbabwe

"I am aware and concerned that Joop and Tai have been arrested: please help Thailand" Ramirez

"I am aware and concerned that Joop and Tai have been arrested" Apolinaire, Geneva

"Dear Joop and Tai. I am watching the situation in Thailand closely and am very concerned for your safety. I know you are strong, and hope you you will be brave and strong during this period. I will write a letter to the Thai Embassy here in Wellington sharing my concern. Stay strong." Edward, Wellington

"I am aware and concerned that Joop and Tai have been arrested." Pradit

"I am aware and concerned that Joop and Tai have been arrested." Kijin

"I am aware and concerned that Joop and Tai have been arrested." Chotipanyo

"I am aware and concerned that Joop and Tai have been arrested." Kitahata, Japan

"I hope they will be released very soon, as well as Somyot." Pierre-Marc

"free somyot and his family!" Alan

"Please release them immediately." Robert, New Zealand

"I am aware and concerned that Joop and Tai have been arrested." David, New Zealand

"You must treat them humanely and with respect and release them!" Lulu, London

"Hi beautiful Joop and Tai, All around earth we love you a lot, like Somyot. You're good, really good and so right. The best for you all. You shine in the light with wonderful blue sky and sun." Alina, Chris, Max, France

"What is the charge against them? There is no charge! Or the 'charge' is the same as the charge against all Thais ... opposing the treasonous coup d'etat of Prayuth & Co. To be a dictator you need a nation of stenographers ... and that ain't Thailand, as has become increasingly apparent since the destruction of yet another popularly elected government and the destruction of its own constitution by Royal Thai Army Coup d'Etat Number 19. Free Tai! Free Joop! Free Somyot! Free all political prisoners! Free Thailand from the hands of the Royal Thai Army!" John, UK
"Dear Joop and Tai, my thoughts are with you at this very troubling time. I have heard of your arrests and this concerns me greatly as, I know, it concerns many people internationally and organizations including Amnesty International. I can only hope that you are being treated humanely and will be released soon." Charlotte, LA

"You are wrong to arrest these people. They should be released immediately. Meanwhile, I expect to see clear evidence that Somyot, Joop and Tai's human rights are being respected." Rosemary, Peru

"I am aware and concerned that Joop and Tai have been arrested. : I am shocked and appalled to see innocent people being treated like this. Abducting the family members of peaceful activists is behaviour associated with the most evil regimes that have existed. This is how the Nazis behaved, this is how Pol Pot behaved, this how Gaddafi behaved. This is how the Junta in Myanmar/Burma behaves. Is Thailand really going to become another Burma? I really hope the Thai military stops behaving in the this disgusting and illegal way, and returns to path of democracy and respect for human rights very soon. I extend my sincerest best wishes to Somyot’s family and hope they are released very soon and unharmed." Paul, UK

"Release Joop and Tai. Release all those who are imprisoned. Release Somyot and all political prisoners" Lee, Thailand

"I am aware and concerned that Joop and Tai have been arrested." Jaap, Netherlands